The touted purpose of the plan is to “identify and understand the critical information needs of the American public, with special emphasis on vulnerable-disadvantaged populations,” the FCC said, Fox News reported.

But at least one FCC commissioner, Ajit Pai, wrote an op-ed piece for the Wall Street Journal that suggested the notion was more aimed at giving government entities the ability to “grill reporters, editors and station owners about how they decide which stories to run.”

Mr. Pai continued: “Everyone should agree on this: The government has no place pressuring media organizations into covering certain stories.”